Johnson ‘rooting’ for Aggies to beat Longhorns

COLLEGE STATION — Matt Blank, a former Texas A&M pitcher and major leaguer, leaned over the third-base rail at Olsen Field and glanced down at his old coach on Tuesday night.

“He looks at home in the third-base box,” Blank said.

It had been four years since Mark Johnson stood there at Olsen, directing base traffic. The last time he wore Aggie maroon. This time it was Sam Houston State orange.

Johnson, who won more games than any A&M baseball coach in history and directed the Aggies to two College World Series and 13 NCAA tournaments over 21 years, received a warm welcome in his return to Olsen on Tuesday before nearly 4,000 fans. A&M, on the strength of five runs in the first inning, defeated SHSU 8-2, following a short video tribute to Johnson before the game.

“It was good to see a lot of people that I worked with for so many years,” Johnson said, singling out sports information director Alan Cannon and field manager Leo Goertz, among others. “It was fun to see a lot of friends. Getting back to Olsen is always a positive, and I enjoyed that part. But we came over to play baseball, and I didn’t like that first inning.”

A&M will face rival Texas this weekend in what amounts to a fight for first place in the Big 12, although Kansas State is in the mix, as well.

“I haven’t seen the Aggies play, so it was fun to watch,” Johnson said. “They’ve got a good team, and I told every one of them that I’m rooting for them to beat the Longhorns.”

Johnson was asked his emotions in jogging to third base for the first time on what was a pleasant, warm night at Olsen.

“I didn’t want to stumble or fall or anything like that,” he said, chuckling. “I was comfortable down there, and it was fun to look at the stadium and feel the Aggie feel. There were no negatives, except that we didn’t win the ball game.”

And why didn’t he want to stumble or fall or anything like that? Johnson knew he’d face the wrath of the Raggies — A&M’s infamous legion of fans along the first-base line — if so.

“I didn’t want to do anything wrong,” Johnson said, grinning. “I think I patted the pitchers’ butt the first time (a popular Aggie jeer), so I got ragged on. I’ve got to clean that up a little bit the next time out.”

Current A&M coach Rob Childress said afterward that it was “an honor to have (Johnson) back.”

Added Aggies senior Kyle Colligan, one of the team’s best players and an outfielder who was recruited by Johnson, “He’s a legend. He’s a great coach and an even better man.”

By the number of his former A&M players in the stands, including Blank, Rich and Tim Petru and plenty of others, it was easy to tell there are lots of folks who feel the same way.